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Activities.
Dartmoor is one of the richest areas of archaeological interest in Europe. Sites range from Bronze Age villages up to
the Industrial Revolution and we are ideally situated for access to some of the
most interesting sites. Haytor Vale alone,
only about five miles distant, contains a Bronze Age settlement , Iron Age
field systems and the famous Nineteenth Century granite railway, while even
nearer is a deserted Mediaeval farming village at Houndtor.
Throughout the Summer the Dartmoor
National Park runs programmes for
locals and visitors alike on various facets of Dartmoor
life from guided walks to hedge laying courses. (www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk/visiting) There is a museum
of Dartmoor life at Okehampton. You will find plenty of literature on Dartmoor
past and present with us here.
The moor is not only for walkers. Pony trekking is available from Widecombe in
the Moor; horses may be hired for
hunting in season (or we can arrange stabling for your own) You can go carriage driving from
Buckfastleigh – either as passenger or pupil- and a day out learning to fly
a bird of prey can also be booked for
you. Permits may be obtained locally
for reservoir and river fishing. Several
local estates offer shooting by the day.
Splendid and varied
National Trust properties are within comfortable distance while for bird
lovers Yarner Wood National Nature Reserve is just the other side of
Manaton and the Exe estuary, famous for
its Avocet population is less than an hour away
(with a good pub at Turf Locks for lunch)
The R.H.S. has one of its gardens at Rosemoor in North
Devon and there are several “Yellow Book” gardens in Manaton
itself and in the surrounding towns and villages. Many of the moorland Churches, too, are well
worth visiting (St. Winifred’s in Manaton has a very beautiful mediaeval Rood
screen). Manaton is one of four
parishes in a United Benefice (Moretonhampstead, North Bovey,
Manaton and Lustleigh . You will find a
great warmth of welcome should you join any of us for a service.